Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act! House-amended S. 192, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, will now be sent to President Obama to sign.

The House passed the Older Americans Act! The Reauthorization bill will help older adults age with independence and dignity in their homes and communities, and protect elders in long-term care facilities and other settings.

On December 18th, 2015, the U.S. Congress approved the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, legislation that will continue the funding of federal programs through Fiscal Year 2016. This bill, which has since been signed into law, will increase funding for elder justice programs as well as Alzheimer’s research in the coming year.

On Wednesday, October 14th, Consumer Voice and members of the Consumer Voice network submitted final comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on proposed changes to the federal nursing home regulations. Click below to learn more & read our final comments.

Exciting news! The Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, S. 192 passed out of the U.S. Senate on on July 16th, 2015! Thanks to all of you who contacted your Senators asking them to support the bill - you helped make this success happen! Click above to learn more.

Consumer Voice is pleased to share that Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) has reintroduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to require round-the-clock registered nurse (RN) coverage in nursing homes. H.R. 952, the Put a Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act, was reintroduced by Congresswoman Schakowsky in the 114th Congress last Thursday, February 12th, and we need your help again in advocating for its passage! Click above to learn more.

Great news! Bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Older Americans Act has already been introduced in the new 114th Congress. S. 192, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, was introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Richard Burr (R-NC) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). This bill would update and strengthen the current Older Americans Act (OAA) law and includes provisions that would aid long-term care consumers. We need your help in moving it forward!

Congress has passed a Fiscal Year 2015 budget that includes important funding for an Elder Justice Initiative as well as an increase in funding for state survey activities at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Click above to learn more.

The Consumer Voice envisions a world in which all consumers of long-term care, services and supports are treated with respect and dignity and have a wide range of affordable, quality options across all settings.